Orleans Judge Frank Marullo plans for another election, to the dismay of challengers

As the state's longest-sitting judge crept past the age of 70 during his current term in office, lawyers began quietly campaigning for the seat he's held for nearly four decades. He would not -- he could not -- run to keep his seat, it has long been assumed.

The state constitution deems Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Frank Marullo, now 73, too old to serve on the bench. But Marullo thinks otherwise.

"Sure I'm running again," Marullo said this week, dashing the rampant speculation that the state constitution's age limit of 70 for judges would leave his seat wide open in the 2014 election.

It was long thought to be the only Criminal District Court seat where there'd be no incumbent to beat.

The Section D bench has been occupied by Marullo for 39 years. And, as it happens, it is Marullo's longevity that might save his seat.

Judge Frank Marullo

When the state constitution was rewritten in 1974, it lowered the age for judicial candidates from 75 to 70. But Marullo took the bench several months before the law was enacted, so he believes he was grandfathered in under the old law that sets the age at 75.

Judicial elections are scheduled for Feb. 1, 2014. Marullo will turn 75 on Dec. 31, 2014, 11 months after he intends to be elected back onto the bench.

So long as he is elected before his 75th birthday, he believes he is entitled to another six-year term.

And he said he's not ready to put down the gavel: "It's like riding a bike. When you ride it so long, you know how to ride," he said. "If I didn't love it, I would have quit a long time ago."

Marullo's turnabout is likely to disappoint a number of lawyers already angling for a judgeship. Traffic Court Clerk Noel Cassanova, a longtime friend of Marullo, said he personally fielded several inquiries from political hopefuls, curious for the inside scoop.